Dr. T.M Thiyagarajan

Administrative and Managerial Positions Held

• Presently, Working as Dean in Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, from Jun 2018.
• Worked as Professor & Head in Rice Research Station & Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Tirur, Thiruvallur District from 2006 to 2008.
• Worked as Dean in Agricultural College and Research Institute (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University), Killikulam, Vallanadu 628 252, Thoothukudi District from 2003 to 2006.
• Worked as Director in Centre for Soil and Crop Management Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore from 2000 to 2003.
• Worked as Deputy Director in Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai (additional responsibility) from  1990 to 1993.
• Worked as Farm Superintendent in Soil Salinity Research Centre, Tiruchirappalli (additional responsibility) from 1987 to 1988.
• Worked as Assistant Professor in Office of the Dean (Post Graduate Studies), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, from 1983 to 1985.
• Worked as Farm Manager in Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003 (additional responsibility) from 1976 to 1977.

Academic and Research Positions Held

• Worked as Consultant in WWF-ICRISAT Project, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad from 2008 to 2011.
• Worked as Professor in Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, from 1996 to 2000.
• Worked as Theme Coordinator in International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, The Philippines (on deputation) from 1994 to 1995.
• Worked as Professor / Associate in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, Aduthurai from 1992 to 1994.
• Worked as Associate Professor in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Soil Salinity Research Centre, Tiruchirappalli, from 1985 to 1988.
• Worked as Assistant Professor / Research Assistant in Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore from 1974 to 1982.
• Worked as Deputy Agricultural Officer (Chemistry) in Soil Survey and Landuse Organization, Coimbatore from 1969 to 1974.

Consultancy Services

• Worked as a Consultant (Agrl Projects) in Mohan Breweries & Distilleries Ltd, Chennai from 2012 to 2013.

Other Professional Experience

Professional Achievements

• Operated 19 externally funded projects for research, postgraduate fellowships, training, technology transfer, symposia/seminar, etc., from international (US$ 1,06,400), national (Rs.13 lakhs), state (Rs. 45 lakhs) and district resources (Rs. 14 lakhs).
• Significant research contribution to science and technology in the fields of :
  • rice production, system of rice intensification
  • water saving rice cultivation
  • use of polymer coated urea, leaf colour chart, chlorophyll meter, systems approaches for improved nitrogen management and enhancing nitrogen use efficiency in rice
  • simulation and systems analysis for rice production
  • quantitative analysis of the response of rice to nitrogen
  • characterization and reclamation of saline soils
  • characterization of soil physical conditions, management of soil physical problems
  • pedogenesis, soil taxonomy, soil survey
• Created opportunities for 8 TNAU scientists and 2 post-graduate scholars to visit foreign countries.
• Created opportunities for 32 TNAU scientists and 12 post-graduate scholars to work in projects with international collaboration.
• Supervised the dissertation work of :
• 1 Ph.D. and 1 M.Sc. student of Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
• 5 Ph.D. and 3 M.Sc.(Ag.) students of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
• Offered courses for Ph.D. programme in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
• Established a new academic society (Indian Society of Agricultural Resource Management) and a new journal (Journal of Agricultural Resource Management).
• Developed new technologies / concepts / tools / methods :
  • Technologies
    • Modified System of Rice Intensification for enhanced water productivity and profitability
    • Leaf nitrogen based nitrogen management strategy for maximizing rice productivity
    • Chlorophyll meter (SPAD) and Leaf Colour Chart technology for real-time N management in rice
    • Use of polymer coated urea for irrigated and rainfed rice
  • Tools
    • Simulation tool MANAGE-N
  • Methods
    • Procedure for collection of rice plant samples for estimating dry matter production and nutrient content
    • New procedure for estimation of soil available nitrogen
  • Concepts
    • Time course sufficiency of leaf nitrogen in rice
  • Approaches
    • Multi-disciplinary network experiments to develop technologies
    • Systems approach for nitrogen management in rice

Administrative Achievements

As Dean (Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam – 2003 to 2016)

• Successfully managed 10 departments, hostels, and farms with 64 scientists, 50 supporting staff, 280 students and 300 farm labourers. 
• Organized International symposium of the campus on “Transitions in Agriculture for Enhancing Water Productivity” during September 23-25, 2003.
• Established a self-supporting “Agricultural Support Centre”, a single window service provider in Tirunelveli City, to supply seeds, train farmers and entrepreneurs, and provide consultancies etc.
• Made a major technology breakthrough in rice cultivation to enhance production, profitability, and water saving by the introduction of “System of Rice Intensification”.
• Mobilized for the first time to the campus, major projects with funding from State Government (Rs.41 lakhs), Plant Research International, Wageningen (US$ 8,000), IRRI, Philippines (US$ 10,500), IMWI, Colombo (5,000), IWMI, Bangkok (US$ 5,600), International Potash Institute (US$ 3,200), district administration (Rs.14 lakhs).

As Director (Centre for Soil and Crop Management Studies – 2000 - 2003), TNAU, Coimbatore 

• Successfully managed 8 component departments, and farms with a manpower of 105 scientists, 30 research scholars, 234 Post Graduate, and Ph.D. students, 195 supporting staff and 379 labourers.
• Conceived and implemented Network Experiments to conduct multi-location trials in different research stations of the state with common objectives to generate recommendations in shortest possible time.
• Motivated the scientists of the Directorate to get 35 new schemes with a total budget of Rs. 326 lakhs from International, National, and Private Sector sources.
• The South India Sugar Mills Association (SISMA) presented Agricultural Research Excellence Award in recognition of the eco-friendly technologies developed in the Directorate,
• Organized 6 summer/winter short courses, 10 trainings, and 3 Workshops.

Significant contribution in technology transfer with international, state, and district funding through: 

• Technical support to NGOs, Civil Society Organizations in different states on SRI (System of rice intensification)
• Adaptive research trials in farmers’ fields to disseminate water-saving rice cultivation (System of rice intensification)
• Interactive meetings with farmers on System of Rice Intensification, balanced fertilization, potassium application, nutrient management for rice.
• Interactive meetings with extension personnel on System of Rice Intensification, revision of fertilizer recommendation to crops, integrated nutrient management.
• Rapport with NGOs, SHGs
• Visiting farmers’ fields in different parts of the state on technology adoption, organic farming.
• Training for extension personnel and farmers on System of Rice Intensification.

Workshops /Seminars/Conferences

• 34 foreign visits to participate in symposia/ workshops/ training/theme coordination/meetings in The Philippines, The Netherlands, Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, P.R. China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Switzerland, Russia, Bangladesh Great Britain, and Madagascar.

Achievements and Awards

Honours and Awards

• "Doyen of Rice Research" Golden Jubilee Award, ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad, 2015
• "Lifetime Achievement Award", Dinamalar, Agricultural Exhibition, Trichy, 2013
• Platinum Jubilee Rice Research Award, Tamil Nadu Rice Research Institute, 2004 for the contribution in rice soil science.
• Best Researcher Award, TNAU, 1998.
• A.N.Puri’s Gold Medal for Ph.D. in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, 1986, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003.

Distinctions and Recognitions

• Chairman, Subgroup on Upscaling Innovative technologies in the Working Group on “Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)” for the Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-17), Government of India.
• Theme Coordinator for 2 years (1994 – 1995) in the project ‘Simulation and Systems Analysis for Rice Production’ of International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, The Philippines for the theme ‘crop and soil management’ operated in 8 countries.
• Visiting Scientist at Research Institute for Agrobiology and Soil Fertility, Wageningen, The Netherlands during November 1994 – May 1995 for the theme coordination work in the SARP project.
• Visiting Scientist at International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, The Philippines during June – December 1995 for the theme coordination in the SARP project.
• Visiting Scientist at Plant Research International, Wageningen, The Netherlands during July – August 2002.
• Member, Board of Trustees, AME Foundation, Bengaluru, India
• Member of the “Water workgroup” of the Irrigated Rice Research Consortium (IRRC) of IRRI, The Philippines.
• Member of the Project Management Committee, Potash Promotion Project, Indian Potash Limited, New Delhi
• Steering Committee member of International Conference on ‘Sustainable Rice Production – Policy, Technology and Extension’ organized by the China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) at Hangzhou during October 15-17, 2004.
• Resource person for international / national training programmes.
• Chaired sessions in international and national symposia/seminars/workshops.